DOOMSDAY UNDER WRAPS
鈥淚gnorance for the populace is bliss.鈥� Those six words caused a blazing row at the American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Denver last week, when the US government鈥檚 scientific adviser Geoffrey Sommer was quoted as saying that the public should not be told of the impending impact of a large asteroid if nothing could be done about it. Critics reacted with scorn, saying everything should be done to try to ensure that humans survive.
CYBER WARFARE
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If the US comes under 鈥渃yber attack鈥� from another country or terrorist organisation, it should be able to respond in kind, says the final draft of a cyber security plan released by the White House last week. Although the plan doesn鈥檛 use the term 鈥渃yber warfare鈥�, the Pentagon admits it is researching cyber weapons to add to its military arsenal.
TO BOLDLY WAIT
The European space programme is temporarily without a rocket. Last week, Ariane 4 made its last journey into space, successfully placing a communications satellite in orbit. The rocket has been in service for nearly 15 years, and completed 116 safe launches. But its successor, Ariane 5, is still grounded after a rocket was destroyed when it veered off course after take-off in December. A relaunch is planned for sometime after March.